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Application No:09/00553/FWard: Sibford Date Valid: 24/04/09Applicant:SiteAddress:Proposal:Tadmarton Heath Golf ClubLower Tadmarton, Banbury, Oxon, OX15 5HLChange of use of land to extend Golf Club Practice Area1. Site Description and Proposal1.1 The application seeks change of use of an area of agricultural land which is ownedby the golf club but currently used for grazing cattle by a tenant farmer. The land inquestion lies to the east of the existing practice ground as a ‘chipping area’. Theexisting practice area is not sufficient for longer shots, as a chipping area or forshorter shots to run simultaneously in safety.1.2 The proposal will include the removal of a section of hedge at the eastern end of thepractice ground, but the northern boundary is to be replanted with a traditional fieldhedge. The main part of the practice ground will remain as grass, as the existingarea and not laid out in any formal manner as it will only be used for practice shots.The margins around the practice ground will remain mown to provide a wildlifehabitat.2. Application Publicity2.1 The application has been advertised by way of a site notice and notice in the localpress, together with notification letters to neighbours immediately adjacent to thesite. The consultation period ended on 28 May 2009.2.2 No comments have been received as a result of the above.3. Consultations3.1 Tadmarton Parish Council raise no objections, but note that the cattle will only havethis Spring, they question if the land is suitable for 12 months of the year.3.2 Oxfordshire County Council as Highway Authority raise no objections.3.3 Cherwell District Council’s Environmental Protection Officer advises a small sectionto the west of the proposed development area is underlain by the NorthamptonSands formation which is likely to contain elevated concentrations of naturallyoccurring arsenic. Given the use of the site this is unlikely to pose a significant risk.A condition relating to contaminated land is therefore not necessary.3.4 Oxfordshire County Council’s Archaeology advise the building lies within an area ofsome archaeological interest, however from the details supplied it would seemunlikely that the small scale nature of the proposals would justify an archaeologicalPage 37